Around the Towns 5/11/2014

A child dealing with a rare genetic disorder was the recipient of kindness from the Eynon/Archbald Lions Club annual pork dinner on May 4.

Nicholas Sikorski, 10, from Archbald, suffers from thrombocytopenia absent radius syndrome. He is missing his radius bones in both arms and has a blood clotting issue, in addition to issues with his lower extremities.

His grandfather is a member of the club, and Lou Rapoch, chairman of the dinner, said this year the club decided to give the proceeds to the family.

“He’s going through a tough time,” Mr. Rapoch said.

Nicholas has undergone 26 surgeries and will need more.

About 25 club members help dish out the takeout or sit-in dinners prepared and hosted by Barrett’s Pub.

Held from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., the event sold about 600 dinners, which Mr. Rapoch called a “phenomenal success.”

— KATHLEEN BOLUS

kbolus@timesshamrock.com, @kbolusTT on Twitter

Clarks Summit

A group of students learned how to create flowers using recycled material at an Arbor Day celebration in late April.

Sponsored by several municipal shade tree commissions around the Abingtons, the annual event is held to teach students the importance of trees.

Clarks Summit Mayor Patty Lawler showed the six students how to create flowers out of newspapers and egg cartons, commission member Donna Zagrapan said.

“We were thrilled that all the kids who showed up won a prize,” she said.

— MICHAEL IORFINO

miorfino@timesshamrock.com, @miorfinoTT on Twitter

Covington Twp.

Gabriel Ramos is among the best of the best.

The Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education gave the 13-year-old Covington Twp. resident the Distiniguished Student Award for 2013-14 for his age group, seventh to ninth grade.

The award recognizes gifted students who are outstanding in one or more of academics, the arts, innovation/entrepreneurial spirit and community service/leadership.

Among his many activities, the North Pocono Middle School eighth-grader has been working with the office of state Rep. Marty Flynn, D-113, Scranton, on writing a bill that would ban medical practices from requiring doctors to sign agreements forbidding them from working for competitors or practicing medicine within certain distances if they leave the position.

After his father, Julio, left his job in Scranton, Gabe said he had to go all the way to Avoca to practice because of such an agreement.

“It jeopardizes patient care,” Gabe said. “If a doctor is displaced out of a county, some patients can’t go to the doctor anymore.”

Barbara Fromert, North Pocono’s gifted support teacher, said she was proud of her pupil. “He’s an outstanding young man,” she said.

— KYLE WIND

kwind@timesshamrock.com, @kwindTT on Twitter

Dunmore

Nicholas Bistran plans to lead a group of Boy Scouts in installing a new flagpole at Dunmore Community Center as his community service project to become an Eagle Scout. Borough council was thrilled when the 16-year-old Dunmore High School sophomore recently made the request.

Nicolas planned for the flagpole to fold down if the rope needs to be changed.

“I’m proud to see young men like you want to do something like that for the town,” borough Councilman Tom Hallinan told Nicolas. “You might not think a lot of it now ... but you’ll definitely think about it about 10 years from now, and you’ll look at it and appreciate the work you did.”

His mother, Michelle Bistran, said he put a lot of time into choosing a project.

“He hard a time deciding what to do,” Ms. Bistran said. “He didn’t want to do something just to do something. He wanted to do something that would last.”

— KYLE WIND

kwind@timesshamrock.com, @kwindTT on Twitter

Honesdale

Honesdale Little League Baseball players have new facilities to hone their skills.

Construction of two baseball pavilions, which will house batting cages at the Scott Kinzinger Sports Complex, is complete. The pavilions enable the league’s 350 players to practice improving fundamentals year-round.

The Honesdale Rotary helped fund the $12,000 project by securing a matching grant from the International Rotary Foundation.

— MICHAEL IORFINO

miorfino@timesshamrock.com, @miorfinoTT on Twitter

Mayfield

Dog owners in the borough were reminded at a recent crime watch meeting to keep their dogs leashed and to clean up after them.

Police Chief Joseph Perechinsky said the borough’s ordinance concerning pets states dogs must be on a leash and under supervision when being walked.

It also says that pet owners are responsible for carrying something to clean up their pet’s waste. Residents have 24 hours to clean up after their pets.

Chief Perechinsky said with the arrival of spring, he does not want to cite pet owners who don’t follow the ordinance.

“This winter was pretty demanding, and a lot of drives were canceled this year,” he said.

Logan, a member of Troop 160 in Clarks Summit, surpassed his drive goal of 25 pints of blood at the Taylor Community Library on May 3.

“We wanted 25 and we got 27” pints from 31 people who showed up to donate blood, Logan said.

Logan has three badges to complete before he can complete the requirements for the rank of Eagle Scout: communications, family life and physical fitness. He plans to complete them by the end of August, reaching the top rank after five years in Boy Scouts.

“I think it’s given me the confidence that I need to lead people and be a leader in society,” he said.

— SARAH SCINTO

sscinto@timesshamrock.com, @sscintoTT on Twitter

Pittston

If you stop at the vending machine on the second floor of the Greater Pittston YMCA, you will not find any candy, cookies or sugary sodas.

“Healthy eating is available, and it can be in a vending machine,” said Y dietitian Emily Richters.

Ms. Richters said the new machine has generated buzz around the Y since it arrived about two weeks ago.

“I’ve noticed a lot more people are talking about it,” she said. “They’re mentioning it in the hallway and asking mom and dad if they can get a snack from it.”

If the machine is a success, Ms. Richters said the Y may consider installing a second one.

— SARAH SCINTO

sscinto@timesshamrock.com, @sscintoTT on Twitter

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